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Billboard Bits: Gaye, 'Gentlemen,' Death Cab

News on Marvin Gaye, 'Gentlemen,' Death Cab

Marvin Gaye's 1976 album "I Want You" is following in the footsteps of his other classic discs "What's Going On" and "Let's Get It On" by getting the full reissue treatment. The two-disc "I Want You -- Deluxe Edition" package will be released July 29 from Motown/UME, remastered and paired with bonus tracks.

The new version of "I Want You" includes a second disc that compiles an entire alternate version of the album from unreleased mixes with different vocals and music, including three session outtakes. The disc will also be accompanied by a 28-page booklet with an essay by Gaye's second wife Janis Hunter.

On the same day, Motown/UME will reissue Leon Ware's "Musical Massage" in an expanded edition. Ware produced "I Want You," and "Musical Massage" was his subsequent recording debut. The reissue will include Ware's original version of the title track of "I Want You" and five other cuts that ended up on that record, as well as additional previously unreleased tracks.

-- Troy Carpenter, N.Y.

The soundtrack to 20th Century Fox's new film "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" will be made available in the U.S. exclusively at Apple's iTunes Music Store. The soundtrack will be an online only release, not to be issued on any physical medium or associated with any label.

The soundtrack will include portions of the score, composed by Trevor Jones ("The Last of the Mohicans") and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Also featured on the soundtrack will be two new, previously unreleased tracks by African vocal combo Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The whole album will be available for purchase today (July 3) for $9.99 at the iTunes Music Store, accessible by Macintosh computer users with Mac OS X.

"The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" stars Sean Connery and Richard Roxburgh in a tale of a group of superheroes joining forces to fight an evil industrial baron who has developed world-threatening weapons.

-- Troy Carpenter, N.Y.

Rock outfit Death Cab For Cutie will release a new album, "Transatlanticism," Oct. 7 via Barsuk. It's the follow-up to the group's 2001 effort "The Photo Album," which hit No. 29 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart. The 11-track set was produced by guitarist Chris Walla, with assistance on two tracks from John Goodmanson (Sleater-Kinney, Posies).

Since "The Photo Album," Death Cab also released an odds-and-ends collection, "You Can Play These Songs With Chords," which debuted at No. 19 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. The group begins an Australian tour tonight (July 3) in Byron Bay, and will tour North America extensively this fall.

In related news, Death Cab frontman Ben Gibbard is enjoying success with the Postal Service, his side project with Dntel's Jimmy Tamborello. The pair's latest Sub Pop album, "Give Up," is No. 3 on Billboard's Top Electronic Albums chart this week.